Nothing is more gratifying than a child giving back the love he has constantly received from his mother.
A few weeks ago, I had a nice conversation with a long-time friend Jerry Aquino who was recently in town to celebrate the 80th birthday of his mother Patricia Rolison Aquino. Jerry is now based in Northern California where he works as a web designer slash developer for human resources for the Santa Clara University where he graduated.
Mamita, as Jerry and his siblings call their mother, had a very heartwarming luau party at their home in South Triangle, Quezon City. According to Jerry, just thinking of the perfect present to give his mother was a formidable challenge. What do you give someone, who through the years, constantly gave herself to others?
“I come from a blended family. My mom is the third wife of Atty. Antonio ‘Tony’ Urquico Aquino who is the oldest in the Aquino clan that includes full siblings Billy, Mila Albert, Linda Martinez and half-siblings Maur Lichauco, Ninoy Aquino, Lupita Kashiwahara, Ditas Valdes, Paul, and Tessie Oreta. Upon my graduation from Ateneo High School (Batch ’79), our family migrated to Northern California,” Jerry narrated.
Jerry said his earliest childhood memories were of Mamita converting the basement of their house into a pattern design class for fashionistas in the late ’60s, presenting Thanksgiving gifts of clothes and canned goods to native Aetas in the Mt. Pinatubo area and preparing nourishment for the campaign staffers of late family politicians QC Vice Mayor Charlie Albert and Sen. Ninoy Aquino.
“That selfless streak continues today with a plethora of religious philanthropy under the auspices of the Pastoral and Hospice Care Ministry of Bethesda Springs of Hope Healing Ministry, where she gives talks and shares in the Family Tree Seminar. Whenever possible, she visits the sick children with leukemia at the Fe Del Mundo Children’s Hospital in Banaue every Friday,” Jerry added.
In 2006, Mamita launched her book E-mail Uppers for the Soul. The book is a compilation of beautiful forwarded e-mail messages that she received from friends. She turned those messages into a tome. Part of the proceeds of the sale of her book continues to fund her ministry. Jerry added that his mother even dabbled into painting and has auctioned numerous works for charity.
In the preface of her book, Mamita wrote: “When I was gifted with a laptop by a dear friend, I began writing inspirational stories. Soon enough I had e-mailed friends and we would exchange stories. This is when I decided to collect and print their forwarded messages. One Christmas, I book-bound their messages and gave them as presents. The response of the recipients was encouraging so I continued compiling their stories, choosing the best that would surely touch people’s hearts. Jesus taught in parables; I pray that, like Him, I will be able to spread the good news to others.”
“What I love most about Mom is that she constantly keeps herself active whether it be through her ministry work or her artistic hobbies. She always trusts in the Lord, lives life to the fullest, forever young at heart and productive,” Jerry said.
Mamita taught her children to give themselves to others. So early on, her children — Ann-Margaret Francisco, Didoy Aquino, Gang Chong, Ku Aquino, Jerry and the late Joey and Papat Aquino — learned how to shower love and kindness to their fellowmen. This kind of generosity is transcended to others who become part of their family, too. For example, a grateful Jerry illustrated, his brother-in-law Alex Limjoco has been the one taking care of Mamita through the years.
Also, Jerry continued, his mother taught them the importance of fostering and nurturing friendship.
“Mamita nurtured family and friend connections. She and my Dad hosted many parties, attended lots of social events and traveled the world to rekindle old acquaintances. I’ve tried to follow their lead whether it be attending class reunions in Manila or in the San Francisco Bay Area; hosting family Thanksgiving and Christmas parties at home; staying connected through traditional and modern means: visiting, texting, emailing, ‘facebooking’ or ‘tweeting’ family and friends from around the world,” Jerry said.
So, I asked Jerry again, what did he give his mother, who, through all these years, has constantly and unselfishly given herself to others.
“Armed with the many lifetime lessons as inspiration, I traveled solo and incognito to Manila from my Northern California home to Mamita’s birthday bash. Aided by an understanding wife (Rebecca Chan) and daughter (Nina Francesca, 17), numerous Manila friends and under the cloak of darkness, I totally crashed her luau party and gave her the one priceless gift no money could ever buy,” he said.
Wrapped in her warm, surprised yet joyous embrace, Jerry gave his mother his love.
(Would love to hear from you at miladayjewels@yahoo.com)